Is the ramp removable? If so, take it out when towing empty. I bought a 6.5x10 trailer that had two options(same price) for rear gates-one regular duty and the other heavy duty. I naturally went with the heavy duty and it is pretty beefy so hauling emtpy sucked. I pulled it off and all was right in the world. Don't even bother using it now for hauling my atv or bikes because I have a few different sets of ramps that are much easier to work with and stow away nicely.

 

The problem with taking out the ramp while towing empty is I usually need it when I get to where I'm going. Take for instance Monday....I will be driving across town empty to pick up a new refrigerator and want the ramp to load it. I could always pull the ramp and throw it in the front of the trailer topside but lordy, it must weigh 100# and I'm a little dude! I'm at this very moment, cutting and grinding and moving the axle back. I will have approx. 13% tongue weight which should more than do the trick.....I think.
Cheers,
cc

 

Dublin, have you tried it with that heavy ramp laid down forward instead of locked in the "up" position? Like yours, my new 3000# GVWR 5x10 has a hell-for-stout ramp that's heavy as heck, all 2x2 tube framing and very heavy gauge expanded metal. When running empty I lay the ramp down in the trailer bed, although it doesn't wobble in either case. Plus, I don't need that big sail up in the air eating extra mpg's with an empty trailer.

 

If you are talking a light weight utility trailer that doesn't come close to exceeding the tongue weight rating of the truck then err on the side of more than 10% tongue weight...a little too much tongue weight tows better than not enough except in extreme cases. If are talking a trailer with a weight of 2000# or so when fully loaded it is hard to get the tongue to heavy for a full sized truck.

 

The ramp doesn't flip up. It slides in under the bed of the trailer. And the trailer weighs in at 940 lbs so not entirely a lightweight. I cut off the old hangers last night and welded new ones on 12 inches back with a goal of hitting 10% on the tongue without the spare sitting up there. When all was done, I hit 95 lbs on the tongue so did pretty well. Took it for a test drive and you wouldn't even know it was there. So next test is to load it up and go! Thanks folks for the help!
Cheers,
cc